Posted: 01/11/06

GLENDIVE -- T.A. "Tully" Vashus, 88, died Sunday, Jan. 8, 2006, at the Glendive Medical Center Extended Care.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, Jan. 13, 2006, at 10 a.m. in the Zion Lutheran Church of Glendive with Pastor Avis Anderson officiating. Interment with military honors will be held in the Dawson County Cemetery. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive is entrusted with the arrangements.

T.A. "Tully" Vashus was born Oct. 20, 1917, in Glendive, the son of Osmund and Karen Vashus. He attended local schools and graduated from Dawson County High School in 1936. He was an avid tennis player, both in high school and thereafter. His first jobs after high school graduation were at the Jordan Hotel, first as a bellhop, then as desk clerk, and ultimately as assistant manager upon his return from his World War II service in 1946. Vashus had served overseas as a member of the Army Air Force in Africa and Italy. He became associated with the First National Bank of Glendive in 1948 and was named chief executive officer in 1956 upon the death of his mentor, G.P. Drowley. In November 1966, he was elected its president and retired as CEO in May 1984, after 36 years. He was elevated to chairman of the board, a position he held until 1997, at which time he became an advisory director of the Stockman Bank's Glendive office.

Vashus graduated from the University of Washington's Banking School in Seattle in 1959. In 1962 he attended a graduate program for senior bank officers at Harvard University, and in 1967 completed the commercial Bank Management Program at Columbia University in New York City. He held a certificate in accounting and in credit and financial analysis from Dun & Bradstreet.

Vashus was active in banking and in business affairs, serving two terms on the board of directors of PCBS at the University of Washington. In 1970 he completed a two-year term on the Advisory Committee, Thirteenth National Bank Region, comptroller of the currency. He was also a former member of the Small Business Administration's Advisory Council for Montana and served on the Board of the Montana Chamber of Commerce.

In 1974-1975 Vashus served as president of the Montana Bankers Association. He served two terms as state chairman for the Montana Savings Bond Committee, and in 1976 he was elected as the Montana Governing Council member to the American Bankers Association. The following year he was elected chairman of the ABA's Region V, in which capacity he represented seven Midwestern states as their national director. In 1981 he was named to the Montana Taxpayers Association Board of Directors, serving as vice chairman, and the following year he was appointed to the Fund for Education in Economics Committee in Washington, D.C., by the American Bankers Association. In 1987 he completed his ABA service after three years as the Montana Chairman for the ABA's membership committee.

At the community level, Vashus was a past president of the Zion Lutheran Church and Glendive Kiwanis Club and served two terms on the Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture Board. He was actively involved as an organizational director of the Glendive Medical Center and was vice-chairman of the City-County Library Board for many years. In 1951-1954 he was treasurer and organizational director of the Glendive Jaycees and an officer and board member of the Dawson County Chapter of the American Red Cross. In 1965 he was named "Boss of the Year" by the Jaycees.

In 1947 Tully married Florence Fehr of Hebron, N.D. In 1997 they commemorated their 50th wedding anniversary. That year also marked Tully's 50th year of association with the Stockman Bank (formerly the First National Bank) and his 50th year as a member of the American Legion, Elks Club and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Tully was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Marie.

Tully is survived by his wife, Florence, of Glendive; sons Ty, Allen and Todd of Billings and Terry of Glendive; daughter Jackie Schultz of Glendive; and five grandchildren.

Tully was very dedicated to the Glendive community and worked zealously toward its growth and development. He was most proud of the signal honor of having served as president of his hometown bank. Additionally, he was especially proud of his having hired into banking nine individuals who ultimately went elsewhere to become presidents of their respective banks....all tangible reflections of his leadership ability.

Memorials are suggested to: The Glendive Medical Center, The Glendive Gateway Museum or the local charity of the donors choice.

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silvernale-silhafuneralhome.com.